Weighted belt type exercising device

ABSTRACT

This invention is used for exercising. The invention includes a plurality of weights that are removably attachable to a shaft which in turn is connected to a link chain. The chain has a loop portion on one end for attachment to a belt. The belt is releasably attachable to the waist of a user.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,751,031

Yamauchi Aug. 7, 1973 [541 WEIGHTED BELT TYPE EXERCISING [56] ReferencesCited DEVICE UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] inventor: Noriyuki Yamauchi,273, 1,930,342 10/l933 Graham 272/84 X Hojo, Toyo-City, Ehime 3,200,5368/1965 Petitto...... 272/57 R P f t Japan 2,051,366 8/1936 Can-on 128/45x 1,047,212 12/1912 Hamilton 272/57 R 1 1 Flledl 1 1970 1,991,520 2 1935Postl 272/84 pp No: 74,297 3,019,019 1/1962 Forte 272/81 PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham [30] For ign Applica i n Pri ri y DAssistant ExaminerWil1iam R. Browne Sept. 24, 1969 Japan 44/914711 A r myR0b r E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato June 19, 1970 Japan 45/52750 June19, 1970 Japan 45/52751 [57] ABSTRACT This invention is used forexercising. The invention in- [1521 272/57 i }G eludes a plurality ofweights that are removably attacht Cl 21 able to a shaft which in turnis connected t0 a link 'g 57 D chain. The chain has a loop portion onone end for at 272/79 DIG 22201353212232; The belt is releasablyattachab e 0 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures WEIGHTED BELT TYPE EXERCISINGDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The technicalfield of the present invention belongs to sporting goods.

Objects of the Invention One of the main objects of the presentinvention is to obtain a gymnastic apparatus which is simple in thestructure and easy to handle.

Another of the main objects of the present invention is to obtain agymnastic apparatus in which a load easily adapted to the bodilystrength or other conditions of the user can be obtained.

One of the subordinate objects of the present invention is to obtain agymnastic apparatus of a low cost.

Various other subordinate objects of the present in vention will be madeclear by the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

fitting tool adjustably and disengageably engaged with the abovementioned weight suspendingmember.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By the following explanation relatingto the drawings, the substance of the present invention will become moreclear and its objects and additional advantages will also become clear.j

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a vertically sectional view of a weight portion in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent invention, and

FIG. 4 is a vertically sectional view of a weight portion in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of thepresent invention shall be explained in the following with reference tothe drawings. However, it will be understood that this explanation isillustrative of the present invention and that therefore the presentinvention is not limited to the specific structure illustrated andexplained herein.

An embodiment of the gymnastic apparatus of the present invention shallbe explained in detail in the following. In FIG. 1, l is at waist beltfitted with a connecting member 2 at one open end and provided withparallel engaging holes 4 and 4' corresponding to engaging pins 3 and 3'of the connecting member 2 in the other open end portion.

This waist belt I can be formed of such belt-shaped material as a wideleather, cloth or synthetic resin.

5 is a weight suspending member fitted in a substan-' tially middleportion of the waist belt 1 and formed by fitting an annular connectingring 7 to the lower end of a suspending piece 6 stitched to the waistbelt 1.

8 is a weight fitting metal tool to whose threaded portion 9 isremovably screwed a weight 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the weight fitting metal tool 8 fitted with theweight can be removably connected to the suspending member 5- by hookingthe connecting portion 10 of the fitting metal tool 8 to which thisweight 11 is screwed on the connecting ring 7 of the above mentionedweight suspending member 5.

12 is an auxiliary weight which is fitted to the fitting metal tool 8 bybeing placed on the upper side of the weight 11 by fitting and insertingthe rod portion 8a of the fitting metal tool 8 in an inserting hole 12amade through the center and then screwing the threaded portion 11a ofthe above mentioned weight 11 to the threaded portion 9 of the fittingmetal tool 8 as shown in FIG. 2.

Therefore, said auxiliary weight 12 is fitted or removed after theweight 11 is removed.

Only one such auxiliary weight 12 is shown in the drawing but any otherdifferent weights may be used in practice.

The gymnastic apparatus of the present invention is formed as in theabove. The method of using it shall be explained in the following. iFirst of all,.the weight 11 or the weight. 11 and auxiliary weight 12fittedzto the fitting metaltool 8 connected to the suspending member 5can be suspended from the waist portion by winding and fitting the waistbelt 1 to the waist portion of the user and connecting the other endportion of the belt with the connecting member 2 to fasten the waistbelt ii to the waist portion. i While the weight 11 or the weight ll andauxiliary weight 12 is mere suspended, the waist portion of the user isrocked forward and rearward or rightward and leftward so that theweight11 or the weight 11 and auxiliary weight 12 suspended from thesuspending member 5 may be rocked forward and rearward or rightward andleftward in the use.

Further, as another using method, while the above mentioned weight issuspended in the same manner, a bending and stretching exercise of thebody of the user is practiced so that the weight suspended from thesuspending member 5 may rise and fall in the vertical direction.

The auxiliary weight 12 may be or may not be added to the weight 11according to the bodily strength of the user. The number of theauxiliary weights to be used is increased or decreased according to theincrease of the bodily strength or the recovery of the sick person.

Another embodiment of the gymnastic apparatus of the present inventionshall be explained in detailed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

21 is a waist belt fitted with a connecting member 22 at one open endand provided with parallel engaging holes24 and 24' correspondingrespectively to engaging pins 23 and 23' of the connecting member 22 inthe. other open end portion.

This waist belt 21 can be formed of such belt-shaped material as a wideleather, cloth or synthetic resin and a proper cushiojing material (notshown) can be attached to the inside of the waist belt to be in closecontact directly with the waist portion of the body when the belt isfitted to the waist portion.

25 is a weight suspending member fitted in a substantially middleportion of the waist belt 21. This suspending member 25 is made byconncting many annular rings 26 so that its length, that is, the lengthof the suspending member 25 from the waist belt 21 to the connectingportion 28 of the later described weight fitting metal tool 27 may beadjusted by connecting the connecting portion 28 of said weight fittingmetal tool 27 with any ring 26 from the fitting portion on the waistbelt 21 to the open end of said weight suspending member 25.

The method of adjusting the length of the suspending member 25 is notlimited to the method explained with reference to the illustratedsuspending member 25. For example, the suspending member 25 may be madein the form of a belt and fitted with such adjusting member as a beltextending and contracting tool which can adjust the length. By the way,when this latter method is to be used, it will be necessary to providesuch connecting portion as an annnlar portion which can engage andconnect with the connecting portion 28 of the weight fitting metal tool27 at the open end of the suspending member'ZS.

This suspending member 25 is to suspend the weight fitted to the weightfitting metal tool 27 and is therefore formed so that it may well endurethe load of the weight lest it'should break under the load.

The connecting portion 28 provided in the upper portion of the weightfitting metal tool 27 so as to be connected with the above mentionedsuspending member 25 is made in the form of a hook so that it may behooked on the ring 26 of the suspending member 25 and, when it isunhooked from'the ring 26, the weight fitting metal tool 27 may bedisengaged from the suspending member 25.

29 is a weight'fitting threaded portion made in the lower portion of theweight fitting metal tool 27.

30 is a weight. Among the illustrated weights 30, the weight 30a isprovided with a threaded hole 31 which can be screwed with the threadedportion 29 of the weight fitting metal tool 27 so that the weight 300may be screwed to the threaded portion 29 of the weight fit"- ting metaltool 27 through said threaded hole 31. An inserting hole 32 throughwhich the rod portion 27a of the, weight fitting metal tool 27 can beinserted is made through each of the other weights 30b, 30c and 30d.When the above mentioned weight 30a is to be screwed, after it isremoved, the rod portion 27a of the weight fitting metal tool 27 isfitted and inserted through the inserting hole 32 of each of the weights30b, 30c and 30d and then the weight 30a is screwed again to thethreaded portion 29 so that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the respectiveweights 30b, 30c and 30d may be placed in turn on the weight 30a andfitted to the weight fitting metal tool 27.

Further, in case the respective weights 30 are to be removed, when theweight 30a is removed from the threaded portion 29 of the fitting metaltool 27, the other weights can be separated and removed in turn from therod portion 27a.

The weight 30d among the illustrated weights 30 is made lighter than anyother weight 30,but it is possible to make all the weights the same inpractice. It is needless to say that, when various different weights areprepared, there is an advantage that it is easy to adjust the energy tobe consumed according to the bodily strength of the user.

33 is a cushioning material attached to the peripheral side of eachweight 30 so that the body of the user may be prevented from being hurtby the weight.

The gymnastic apparatus of the presentinvention is formed as in theabove. The method of using it shall be explained in the following. Firstof all, the weight 30 can be suspended from the waist portion by windingand fitting the waist belt 21 to the waist portion of the ,user,connecting the other end portion of the belt with the connecting member22 to fasten the waist belt 21 to the waist portion and then engagingthe connecting portion 28 of the weight fitting metal tool 27 fittedwith the weight 30 with the suspending member 25 (which may be connectedin advance when the waist belt 21 is fitted).

While the weight 30 is suspended, the waist portion of the user isrocked forward and rearward or rightward and leftward so that the weight30 suspended from the suspending member 25 may be rocked forward andrearward or rightward and leftward in the use.

Further, as another using method, while the above mentioned weight 30 issuspended in the same manner, a bending and stretching exercise of thebody of the user is practiced so that the weight 30 suspended from thesuspending member 25 may rise and fall in the vertical direction.

In the case of the above mentioned rocking exercise, if it is made in anupright standing place or, for example, within a room, it is effectiveto suspend the weight 30 so that it may not contact the floor and may beas lower as possible than-the waist portion. Therefore, in the case ofconnecting the connecting portion 28 of the fitting metal tool 27 withthe suspending member 25, the connecting portion 28 of the fitting metaltool 27 is engaged and connected with the ring 26 as low as possible byconfirming in advance that, when the connecting portion 28 of thefitting metal tool 27 is hooked on the ring 26 of the suspending member25, the weight 30 may not contact the surface of the upright standingplace.

On the other hand, in the case of the below mentioned bending andstretching exercise, it is necessary to set the gymnastic apparatus sothat, when the leg portions are bent down, the weight 30 may not collidewith the surface of the upright standing place.

All the four weights 30 to be fitted to the fitting metal tool 27 asillustrated are not always fitted in practice. According to the bodilystrength of the user, only one, that is, only the weight 30a is fittedand, in case the weight 30a is too light for the exercise, any of theother weights 30b, 30c and 30d may be fitted in practice. Further, forexample, when the weight of each of the weights 30a, 30b and 300 is 7 kgand that of the weight 30d is 3 kg, at first, with 7 kg of the weight30a, the exercise is practiced by the above mentioned two methods. Incase the bodily strength is increased as a result and the weight becomesinsufficient, 3 kg of the weight 30d are added so that a total of 10kgof the weights may be fitted. Then the weight SM is removed and theweight 30b is fitted so that the total may be 14 kg. Further, the weight30d is again added so that the total may be 17 kg. Also, instead of theweight 30d, the weight 30c is added so that the total may be 21 kg.Then, at last, the weight 30d is added to make the total 24 kg., That isto say, as illustrated, the four weights 30 are fitted to be used.

Therefore, as already described, it is preferable that various weights30 are provided. For the cure or recovcry of a sick person or, forexample, a person having a pain in the waist, a very light weight isused. For the increase of the beauty or bodily strength ofa healthyperson, a weight according to the bodily strength of the user is used.

Thus, according to the gymnastic apparatus of the present invention, arocking or bending and stretching I exercise is practiced whilesuspending a weight from the waist portion of the user and, therefore,particularly the strengths of the legs, waist, abdominal muscleand backcan be increased.

Further, the exercise of rocking or bending and stretching the waistwith the gymnastic apparatusof the present invention is so rhythmicaland moderate that the apparatus is favorable to the cure and recovery ofsuch sick person as of a waist pain and is very effective to the cure ofa waist pain in particular. The inventor himself is also continuouslypracticing an exercise with said gymnastic apparatus for about minutesin the morning and evening every day to completely cure the waist pain.

Further, in the second embodiment, as the length of the suspendingmember for the weight is made adjustable, the above mentioned exercisecan be practiced smoothly without being influenced by the height of theuser, as a plurality of weights 30 are removably fitted to the fittingmetal tool 27, the energy to be consumed can be adjusted according tothe bodily strength of the user and, as an exercise can be practicedwhile increasing the weights in turn, the apparatus is very effective tothe increase of the bodily strength or beauty of a healthy person and tothe recovery or cure of a sick person.

What is claimed is:

l. A gymnastic apparatus comprising: a waist belt to be worn around thewaist of a user of the gymnastic apparatus; weight suspending memberconnected to said waist belt and comprising a link chain having aplurality of interconnected chain links; a plurality of weights eachhaving apertures therethrough; a waist fitting tool comprising a shaftextendable through the apertures in said weights and having at one endthereof means for releasably supporting said weights during use of theapparatus and having at the other end a hook engageable individuallywith selected ones of said chain links for connecting said weightfitting tool to said weight suspending member thereby suspending saidweights from said waist belt and enabling selective variation of thedistance between said weights and said waist belt; and cushioning meansdisposed on each of said weights for cushioning any impact between auser of the gymnastic apparatus and the suspended weights.

1. A gymnAstic apparatus comprising: a waist belt to be worn around thewaist of a user of the gymnastic apparatus; weight suspending memberconnected to said waist belt and comprising a link chain having aplurality of interconnected chain links; a plurality of weights eachhaving apertures therethrough; a waist fitting tool comprising a shaftextendable through the apertures in said weights and having at one endthereof means for releasably supporting said weights during use of theapparatus and having at the other end a hook engageable individuallywith selected ones of said chain links for connecting said weightfitting tool to said weight suspending member thereby suspending saidweights from said waist belt and enabling selective variation of thedistance between said weights and said waist belt; and cushioning meansdisposed on each of said weights for cushioning any impact between auser of the gymnastic apparatus and the suspended weights.